Punch-transfer mechanism for heading-machines



A. H. GAESS.

, 'PUNCH TRANSFER MECHANISM roe HEAD-ING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED'MN. 13, 920. 1,372,132 Patented Mar. 22, 1921;

I A. H. GAESS. PUNCH TRANSFER MECHAMSM FOR HEAUING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED .JAN. 13, I920.

' Patented Mar. 22, 1921.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT H. GAESS, F WATERBURY, oonnncrrco'r, users-Non To THE E. :r. NV MACHINE company. A STATUTE CORPORATION or CONNECTICUT.

PUNCH-TRANSFER MECHANISM non READING-MACHINES.

heading machines wire or rod is fed into a die which is moved sidewiseto cut oil a blank and carry it lnto line with heading punches that are mounted in a holder attached to a vertically movable slide which is carried bya horizontally reciprocating gate. Between the reciprocations of the gate the slide is moved up and .downso that the blank will first be acted upon by'one motion of the slide isjust equal to the distance betweenthe centers of the punches,

the centers of which in striking position.

punch andthen by another punch. a An example of such a machine ofthe double acting type is illustrated and described in United States patent to A. C. Campbell, No.

926,170, June 29, 1909.

i This inventionrelates to the mechanism which is provided in multiple-stroke heading machines for transferring the punches from position to position.

In these machines the punch slide is usually moved upand down at the proper intervals by means of cam operated levers and rockers, the throw of which is such that the must exactly aline with the eenterof the die. A post and nut are ordinarily arranged on the gate to engage and stop the slide in its upward movement with the center of the lower punch exactly alined with the center of the die. A screw is commonly threaded in the slide so. as to engage the gate and stop the slide in its; downward movement with the center of the upper punch exactly alined withthe center of the die, and adjustable means are provided in the lever connections to enable the correct to the slide between mechanism anditsrelative arrangement in ya double-stroke header of the type shown in .the Campbell patent mentioned. Fig.2 is aysideelevatiolrof the upper portion ofthe punch slide showing the "adjustable stops.

movement to be given the stops. p

Ii the operator on turning over-the ma chinebefore starting the worl and particu larly after changing the punohes for differ ent work or for some other reason, finds that a punch center is a fewthousandths f of an inch above or belch; the center ofthe Specification of Letters Patent. Pz'ttlltGd Mar. 22, 1921 AppIication filed January 13, 1920. Serial No. 351,217. I

die or that the distance between the centers oi thepunches 1s not exactly thesame as the throw of the operating mechanisms, he must reset the stops and readjust the lever and rocker connections to make the necessary COITGCUOI); 1th the machines as previously built it frequently happens that the opercuouslyabout the space between the die and gate and it sometimes happens that a blank Wlll become caught between the bottomof theirame or gateway andthe top of a lever or rocker arm, with the result that the rockerkis bent out of shape, or its key is sheared ofl, or the connection between the lever and frockeris broken, or the leveris broken, or the cam shaft twlstechfiin any event the consequence being-expensive damage." v y a y The object of this invention is to so construct the punch transfer mechanism ofmachines ofthis class that no such damage will result from improper adjustment of the slide stops-or lever connections, or from the accidentalinterposition of foreign pieces betweenmoving parts of the transfer mechaadjacent fixed parts of the ma- .This object is attained by constructing the transfer. :lever, which is actuated positively'and definitelyby the cam, in such orthere is any interference with thenormal movements of the transfer mechanism. H Inthe accompanymg drawlngs Figure 1 shows a a general view of the punch transfer Fig. is a rear-elevation er the top of the slide and stops. "Fig. '4? is, on larger scale,

I on Fig. 5. Fig.

secured to. a' slide 4; which is movable up dtally reciprocating gate .5.

y by a cam- 12 on the cam shaft 13. ."tELtlOn of the cam through the lever and an edge view of the cam lever with parts out in section, as indicated by the line d l f is a side elevation of the cam lever with portions in section. Fig. 6 shows, on still larger scale, a. transv rse section of the lever, as indicated by the line 6-6 on'Fig. 5. Fig. 7 line 7-7011 Fig. 5.

In the mechanism illustrated the punches land 2 are mounted in a holder 3 that is is a section on the rocker' raises and lowers the punch slide at the proper intervals to bring the punches alternately in line with the die. The adjustment'to give the proper path of move- 7 ment to the slide. is made by changing the position ofthe sliding connecting block 14 ;lo,y means of the screws 15 and 16. At the top of the slide is a rearwardly projecting bracket 17 which carries a stop screw 18 provided with a lock nut 19. A

post 20 extends upward from the gate loosely through an. opening in the bracket and is provided Wltlia'StOp nut 21 and a. lock nut 22 above .the bracket. The screw 18 is set so as to engagethe' top' of the gate and stop the downward movement of the slide when the centerof the punch 1 is in line with the rcenter of the die,-and the nut 21 is set to engage the-bracket and stop the slide in itsupward movement with the center of the punch 2 in line with the center of the die. Asabove stated, if adjustment is made bysetting the stop screw or stop nut so that the punches will properly aline with the die openingand no adjustment of the'lever and rocker connection is made to correct the vthrow, allof the parts are put under strain and ifnot distorted. and damaged are subjected to excessive wear-Q Furthermore, if a tool-or piece of metal should by accident' he laid upon the top of the gate in position I to beengage-d by the stopv screw, or if a blank or other piece should get between the bottom of the machine frame or gate and the operating parts, something must give way. To eliminate these possibilities the cam lever 10 is made in two yieldingly connected sectionsthe section 23 with yoke 2t-which encircles'the operating cam and- -.the section 25' with yoke 26 which holds the'adjustingblock. Inv the embodiment ofgthelinvention shown the adjacent ends of these cam lever sections are provided with two cylindrical pockets 27, and in these pockets hollow cylinders 28 with one end closed are loosely fitted. In the cylinders are arranged headed plungers 29, and between the closed ends of the cylinders and the heads of the plungers are spiral. compression springs 30. lhese springs are designed to thrust the cylinders in one direction and the plungers in the opposite direction, and the movements of the cylinders are limited by studs 81 that extend across the section 23 back of the closed ends of the cylinders and through slots 32 in the plungers, while the movements of the plungers are limited by studs that extend across the section 25 in front of the heads of the plungers through slots 34; in the cylinders. \Vith this arrangement the springs are always under con'iprcssion and their resistance to compression is utilized in the normal operation of the mechanism and also in case'of any misadjustment or acci dental interference with the operation of the slide or connecting mechanisms. lVhen the cam pushes the rear lever section forward the studs 31 push the cylinders forward and they in turn through the springs push the plungers forward and as the plum gers engage the studs 33 the forward section of the lever is pushed forward. When the cam retracts the rear lever section the studs 31 draw back the plungers and they through the springs draw back the cylinders and these by engagement with the pins 33 draw back the forward section of the lever. If abnormal resistance is offered to the forward movement of the cam lever the springs are compressed and if abnormal resistanoe is offered to the retraction of the lever the springs are also compressed.

Thus, by means of this mechanism, the possibility of damage resulting from the errors of adjustment or'accidental interposition of pieces as previously mentioned is eliminated.

The invention claimed is 1. In a multiple-stroke heading machine the combination of a vertically reciprocating punch slide. means for raising and lowering said slide, a cam, a sectional yielding lever actuated by said cam, and an adjustable connection between said lever and said means for raising and lowering the slide, said lever being adapted to yield when resistance is offered to either the up or the down movement of the slide.

2. In a multiple-stroke heading machine the combination of a vertically reciprocating punch slide, a rocker for reciprocating the slide, adjustable stops for determining the limits of movement of the slide, a cam, a sectional lever actuated by said cam, an elastic connection between the sections of said lever, and an adjustable connection between said lever and said rocker.

8. In a multiple-stroke heading machine the combination of a vertically reciprocating punch slide, means for raising and lowering said slide, adjustable stops for determining the limits of movement of the slide, a cam, and a sectional lever designed to yield when the slide reaches the limits of its movements actuated by said cam and connected with said means for raising and lowering said slide.

4. In a multiple-stroke heading machine the combination of a vertically reciprocating punch slide, means for raising and lowering said slide, a cam, and a sectional lever designed to yield on both the upward and downward movements of the slide actuated by said cam and connected with said means for raising and lowering the slide 5. In a multiple-stroke heading machine the combination of a vertically reciprocating punch slide, means for raising and lowering said slide, a cam, and a sectional lever actuated by said cam and connected with said means for raising and lowering the slide, said lever sections being held together against pull and thrust by means of springs under compression.

6. A transfer lever for multiplestroke heading machines comprising two sections containing cylindrical pockets, cylinders loosely fitting said pockets, means limiting the movement of the cylinders in the pockets, plungers loosely fitting said cylinders, means limiting the movement of the plungers in the cylinders, and springs thrusting between the cylinders and plungers.

7. A transfer lever for multiplestroke heading machines comprising two sections containing cylindrical pockets, cylinders loosely fitting said pockets, studs held by one lever section and passing through slots I in the cylinders, plungers loosely fitting said cylinders, studs held by the other lever section and passing through slots in the plungers, and springsthrusting between the cylinders and the plungers and holding them extended against said studs.

ALBERT H. GAESS. 

